With the holidays approaching, I'm going to give this forum a vacation. I'll be back in 2014 to continue these lessons--if you want me to.

It's no secret that I've been frustrated from the get-go by my inability to get more participation. I can't help but think that my lessons need to be more relevant to FaithWriters--but I can't know what you all need if you don't let me know what that is.

My last lesson only got one response--and that was after I went to that person and sought out her input.

Please let me know--what do you need in a writing forum? Is this too easy? Too hard? Too irrelevant? Help!

Sorry you've been so frustrated, Jan. I guess I was thinking that since I'd participated in many of your classes before, I'd "let" other people respond this time. But if you bring them back in January, I'll make it a point to respond. I've also just been extremely busy with the Christmas musical at my church since... oh... July. (I kid you not. Auditions were in late July.)

First of all let me say thank you so much for the help you have given. I know you worked very hard to reach out to us and make us better writers.

There may have been others like me who read your posts and drew from them the ability to write better, but did not participate for one reason or another.

For me it was this. I have only been writing for less than two years. Your lessons were the first I had heard of things like Allegory, Parable, Alliteration, but I learned something just from reading your lessons. I especially liked the alliteration one because I enjoy writing poetry.

But I found it hard to participate in the homework because I have trouble following instructions (I still sweat while putting links in) and to comment intelligently about something I knew nothing about. Many of the writers on this site have degrees in this or that, and I barely managed to graduate from high school. lol

As I say, maybe a lot of others read your lessons but didn't choose to participate for some reasons.

I will look forward to your lessons if you decide to come back in January, and try harder to be a participant.

Blessings, Lynn

God Bless the beasts and the childrenGive them shelter from the storms.Children are our tomorrowKeep them daily from the sorrowOf the beasts in life

Shari is right, Jan. It's such a changing face of communication online these days. Not just the forums feel the bite as more and more people discover other ways to connect and communicate. But I know for a fact that the people who have participated in your lessons have found them so valuable.

I posted a reply here yesterday, or at least I thought I had. Must have hit the wrong button.

Anyway, what I said was thanks for the lessons and I apologized for not contributing for a few weeks. Both Giovanna and I have been very sick with some bug or other and it has been hard just to keep our heads above water. But, that being said, I did read most of the lessons and want to let you know that each week, when doing the challenge, I try to incorporate something I have learned from you; putting into practice helps to cement the lesson learned.

The other thing I mentioned Shari and Deb have now commented on -- forums all over, and other types of activity, are all down as FB and Twitter dominate. None the less, I really believe that if you help ONE person to improve their writting skills then this thread is a raging success.

AND HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS.

There is no doubt in my mind that I am a better writer because of this thread. You help me focus on writing as a skill not just a sport. I think about what I write, especially when re-writing or editing it, far more than I ever did. I use some skills now (although poorly) with knowledge and understanding rather than just by chance. Also my patience and understanding of punctuation; you know what I'm talking about -- is all thanks to your patience and understanding

I would like to see you continue next year, for totally selfish reasons, but believe I'm not the only one.

Blessings, Graham.

May we all get eyes to see and ears to hear,A Revelation of His Word, crystal clear.Admitting our need to be drawn in,Less of self, more of Him.

It all comes down to effort vs. return, for me. It's all well and good to say that if I've helped ONE person to improve their writing, it's worth it--but from my point of view, it's hours and hours of my time, on my own nickel. I realize that sounds petty and selfish.

And I'm not entirely sure that the lack of participation can be blamed on social media. The people at FaithWriters are obviously here because of a love of writing, and they take the time to write and submit challenges or regular articles. Obviously social media doesn't take all of their online time. So I just don't understand why more writers wouldn't take advantage of FREE lessons and one-on-one responses to their contributions. The only thing I can think is that there's something lacking in the lessons themselves.

I wanted to put this in as a seperate post so that it didn't get lost in my last long one.

Lyn said:

I barely managed to graduate from high school.

Two points to this. First Lyn, I didn't graduate high school. I won a scholarship in England to go to a high faluting, rich man's, tradition infected, professor ridden, smock wearing institution but was saved when my family emigrated. I was 15 at the time and never returned to school. I've done some university studies as a mature age student but could never stick long enough to complete anything. Most folk that know me think I'm a highly educated person, but I'm not, I just read heaps and am able to absorb and remember.

Main point is this, I have never seen a post by you Lyn, or read anything you've written that even remotely seems uneducated. Keep posting and sharing, God is using you.

Secondly, Jan you are helping heaps of unseen Lyns to grow in these threads. but for many reasons they do not respond. I'm reminded of a story about a man who felt bad because he only ever led one man to Christ; but that man was named Billy Graham.

Many a reward will be received in heaven by folk who didn't even know they earned it.

Blessings, Graham.

May we all get eyes to see and ears to hear,A Revelation of His Word, crystal clear.Admitting our need to be drawn in,Less of self, more of Him.

Please come back in the new year, Jan! This month is over the top busy for me as I try to add NaNoWriMo to a very busy life, but I really want to take advantage of your lessons. I know that I can learn so much from you and I am eager to grow as a writer. Have a lovely Christmas season!

Jan, I'm very grateful to you for teaching me how to write poetry, as I hadn't a clue about meters and the like until you enlighten me. I'm sure there are many like me who have benefitted from your expert teaching.

Shann, was trying to encourage new comers to join your lessons - maybe a few older members bowed out at this time. It must be difficult for you to cater for such different abilities that range from beginners to old timers.

Personally, I love writing direct Christain articles and would love to jon in some lessons that taught about Chritian poetry, devotions and other such articles of a direct Christian nature.

Jan, I was just daydreaming as I soaked in the bath and got round to thinking maybe you would enjoy it better if you posted lessons once a month or fortnightly. Give you more time for other things.

Below is a poem I wrote, someone said it was perfect in meter and rhyme (thanks to you) and I know it has blessed quite a lot of people who needed a rest from the trials of life and thought it appropriate in your present need of a break.